news Archives

We urgently need to rethink media literacy education–here’s how I did

October 9, 2026 by Deidre Habetler, Chicago Public Schools

Decision Education will be essential to help students make high-quality real-world decisions in a life shaped by constant digital input

In my classroom, I see students make rapid judgments about information they encounter online, but struggle to explain why they trust it and if it is trustworthy.

AI in Education

Learner agency comes first in AI-driven digital literacy

October 5, 2026 by Dr. Mark Taormino, College of Southern Nevada

Curriculum must evolve beyond AI tools and teach learner agency, judgment, verification, and critical thinking for true digital literacy.

For many schools, the path to AI literacy remains unclear. The challenge is not simply AI’s rapid evolution, but its ability to generate answers almost instantly, forcing educators…

Curriculum & Assessment

5 strategies to boost U.S. K-12 math achievement

September 29, 2026 by ESchool Media Contributors

$A new report offers a clear blueprint for U.S. policymakers as the nation tries to boost math achievement following historic low scores.$

A new report from the Center for American Progress details the underlying causes behind this decline and highlights promising solutions to improve math outcomes and outlines five specific policy-based strategies…

E-rate Funding

What E-Rate makes possible: Four lessons from our district

September 30, 2026September 28, 2026 by Dr. Chris Smallen, Lenoir City Schools & Rachel Little, United Data Technologies

Lenoir City Schools uses E-Rate to create an environment where all district students have access to the same opportunities and resources.

For nearly three decades, E-Rate has helped school districts build and sustain the network infrastructure that supports teaching, learning, safety, and the many systems educators rely on every…

College and Career Readiness

Inspiring curiosity for career exploration and mentoring for pathway success

September 24, 2026September 23, 2026 by Michael Collins, Ruben S. Ayala High School

Career exploration should be combined with visible connections to career pathways that align with a student’s interests and aspirations.

In my eight years as a high school CTE, Engineering and Architecture Pathway instructor, I have witnessed students and their families struggle to navigate their career trajectory. Every…

School Library Innovations

Beyond book displays: How to build lasting support for your school library

September 23, 2026September 22, 2026 by ESchool Media Contributors

When school librarians hear the word marketing, many immediately think of newsletters, social media posts, bulletin boards, or eye-catching displays. Those tools certainly have their place, but they're…

AI in Education

The oral exam is back, and AI may be the reason

September 18, 2026 by Nesreen El-Baz, Bloomsbury Education Author & School Governor

AI is forcing educators to reconsider what actually counts as evidence that learning has taken place, and oral exams may be the answer.

In 2023, Catherine Hartmann, a professor at the University of Wyoming, gave students in a history of meditation course a deeply personal assignment: try a contemplative practice and…

District Management

Let’s work to keep our students while we still have them

September 17, 2026 by Paul DeAngelis, Concentric Educational Solutions

Keeping our students connected, supported, and on a path to graduation is the choice school leaders must make now.

According to research I recently saw , About 16% of young people ages 18 to 24 are not in employment, education, or training. Researchers call them NEETs, or…

College and Career Readiness

Quit saying “I’m not a math person”

September 16, 2026 by Dr. T.J. Vari, MaiaLearning & Thomas O’Brien, Winward Academy

$"Not a math person"--what seems like a harmless and innocent thing to say could be creating significant damage over time.$

It’s quite rare to hear someone say, “I can’t read” or “I’m illiterate so I don’t read.” On the other hand, lots of people claim that they’re “not…

Universal Design for Learning

The compliance trap waiting on the other side of Title II

September 11, 2026 by Luis Pérez, CAST

A Web Content Accessibility Guidelines audit tells you if a tool passes a test--it won't tell you if students can actually use it.

Every few years, something shifts how schools think about accessibility. A law changes, a new technology arrives, or a group of advocates succeeds in bringing attention to the…

AI in Education

AACTE releases national framework on AI in educator preparation

September 9, 2026 by ESchool News Staff

The widespread adoption of AI is changing educator preparation what educators need to know and what they need to be able to do.

A new national framework from AACTE (American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education) aims to help educator preparation programs (EPPs) navigate the rapidly changing role of artificial intelligence…

Classroom Management

When practice becomes data: Helping teachers respond to student misconceptions

September 8, 2026September 8, 2026 by Henry Yang, EduNinja

A student can complete 20 questions and still leave a teacher with very little useful information. A score may show that something went wrong, but it does not…

Literacy

Why reading interventions plateau—and why New York’s new dyslexia center won’t change that

September 8, 2026September 7, 2026 by Russell Van Brocklen, Dyslexia Researcher

New York is investing in earlier dyslexia identification, but identifying struggling readers is only the first step in reading interventions.

I’ve sat across from more than one district administrator staring at a dashboard full of reading intervention minutes and a flat progress line. The pattern is familiar: a…

AI in Education

Career readiness in the AI era needs decision practice, not just tool access

September 4, 2026 by Gleb Tsipursky, PhD, Disaster Avoidance Experts

When it comes to career readiness, the best prep for an AI-shaped labor market is more practice making decisions when AI is in the room.

Schools are racing to teach students how to use AI. That is necessary, but it is not enough. The workplace advantage will increasingly belong to people who can…

Curriculum & Assessment

Students won’t remember every lesson, but here’s what’ll stick

August 27, 2026 by Ryan Sprott, PBLWorks

How project-based learning, or PBL, builds the curiosity, empathy, and practical skills that last well beyond a student's time in school.

For a lot of students, school can feel like a transaction: You do the work, you get the check mark, and then you move on. That model can…

District Management

Building inclusive school communities through integrated digital strategy

August 26, 2026 by Alex Tarin, Finalsite

Administrators and technologists must look at digital strategy as a key bridge to equity and inclusive school communities.

Clear, timely communication is the bedrock of the relationship between a school and its families. It is the invisible thread connecting a student’s classroom progress to the support…

District Management

Financial education must not sacrifice student privacy

August 24, 2026 by Vince Shorb, National Financial Educators Council

Students need practical experience with financial education, but no classroom exercise should put their personal information at risk.

Financial education is gaining real momentum across the United States. More states are adopting mandates, more schools are adding graduation requirements, and more policymakers are acknowledging that students…

Literacy

What it really takes to accelerate adolescent literacy across our district

August 20, 2026August 20, 2026 by Dr. Michelle Picard, Loudoun County Public Schools & Dr. Octavia Gray-Essex, Lexia

Gaps in foundational skills, from decoding and spelling to fluency, undermined the district’s adolescent literacy efforts.

When people hear about the literacy gains we’ve seen in our middle schools, they often ask a simple question: What program did you use?

AI in Education

5 ways AI can strengthen your teaching this school year

August 17, 2026 by Timothy Montalvo, Iona University & the College of Westchester

The conversation around AI and teaching has changed and is no longer about using AI—it’s about using it wisely.

A year ago, many educators were still asking whether artificial intelligence belonged in the classroom. Some were cautiously experimenting with AI-generated lesson plans, while others were focused on…

Student Well-Being

The foundation for student success is a positive classroom culture

August 13, 2026 by Tiffany Wilson-Pugh, Dr. Yuvraj Verma, Dr. Luther Riley, & Rachel Campbell, Empower Community School

A positive classroom culture is built not built on a single activity but through thousands of intentional interactions.

As the school year begins, teachers often devote significant time to planning lessons, reviewing standards, organizing classrooms, and establishing routines. While these are all essential components of effective…

Classroom Management

How to build a positive classroom in the first 5 days of school

August 12, 2026August 11, 2026 by Kim Harding, Van Andel Institute for Education

The most important thing educators can do at the start of a new school year is build trust and create a positive classroom culture.

There’s a wise quote that says, “Kids don’t care about your expectations until they know you care about them. Connection is the foundation everything else stands on.”

District Management

The grading paradox: Better data is key to understanding real subject mastery

August 12, 2026August 6, 2026 by Chris Rose, Abre

A unified data system offers a shared roadmap where every stakeholder has the clarity to understand subject mastery.

There’s a confusing trend going on in the nation’s classrooms: While national test scores have dropped to levels not seen in decades, average high school GPAs are actually…

Emergency Planning & Response

In a school emergency, 911 is still flying blind

August 12, 2026August 5, 2026 by Dean Drako, Brivo

Cameras are ubiquitous on public school campuses, so why are 911 dispatchers still operating in the dark in a school emergency?

School safety emergencies are inherently chaotic, frightening, and made even more perilous by a lack of real-time visibility once an emergency is underway. In an active shooter incident,…

District Management

Does school design help or hinder adolescent learning?

August 12, 2026August 4, 2026 by Heidi Neumueller AIA, NCARB, LEED AP®, Amy Keller Frye

How one school reimagined learning spaces–and what others can learn

Adolescence is one of the most consequential periods of human development, yet the environments designed to support it often fail to reflect its complexity. Spanning ages 10 to…

Curriculum & Assessment

First graders need a chance to explain their math thinking

July 30, 2026 by Ashley Landry, Reynolds Elementary, Spring ISD

$Research shows that young students build stronger math understanding when it connects to their everyday lives.$

In first grade, educators shape the trajectories of how students feel about math. Long before they discover algebra or standardized tests, six- and seven-year-olds are forming beliefs about…

Teaching Trends

Don’t forget nature’s classroom

July 29, 2026July 29, 2026 by Vanessa Garza, Girls Athletic Leadership School Los Angeles

Outdoor education has been shown to improve academic outcomes across subjects, including science, reading, and math, while also strengthening motivation, well-being, and school engagement. Studies also link outdoor…

Literacy

Digital detox: Reducing screen time creates space to build literacy skills

July 28, 2026 by Dr. Cheryl Lundy Swift, Learning Without Tears

In a digital world, handwriting remains an essential way young students build the physical and cognitive foundations for literacy.

Walk into almost any elementary classroom today and you will likely hear the same concern from teachers across grade levels: Many students can swipe, tap, and navigate a…

Teacher Professional Development

Teacher training needs more community and less compliance

July 27, 2026July 27, 2026 by Quinn Simpson, Gedi Village

Professional development and learning, like teaching itself, flourishes through relationships built on trust.

Professional development is one of a school district's most powerful strategies for improving student outcomes. Yet, educators often leave workshops feeling inspired in the moment, but take little…

College and Career Readiness

A second language is more than an elective—it’s a workforce skill

July 17, 2026 by Andrew Bowen, Carnegie Learning

Schools can use technology in language learning to build communication skills, cultural understanding, and career readiness.

When I taught Spanish, students would often ask, “Why do I need to learn this?” Many thought that learning a new language would only be useful if they…

District Management

Lead with purpose: 3 ways courageous K-12 leadership builds real impact

July 15, 2026 by Dr. Adam Larsen, Peoria Unified School District

Here are practical strategies for K-12 leadership staff to inspire teams, simplify systems, and elevate impact.

As the Director of Maintenance and Operations for 42 campuses across our district, my work is never small. From managing facilities and construction to navigating procurement and public…

Teacher Well-Being

5 ways to rest, reflect, and recharge this summer

July 8, 2026 by Jamie MacPherson, Van Andel Institute for Education

Summer offers educators a chance to focus on self-care, reflect on their teaching successes, and gear up for another academic year.

Summer break has finally arrived, and if you're like most educators, you're probably feeling a lot of conflicting emotions. There's relief that the school year is behind you,…

College and Career Readiness

The hidden curriculum gap

July 7, 2026July 1, 2026 by Dr. KC Curberson-Alvarado, Alliance for Decision Education & H3 Solutions Group

Aligning CTE with Decision Education can prepare students for their first step after graduation--and for every decision that follows.

A post-graduation readiness report by YouScience found that the majority of graduating high school seniors lack confidence in their post-graduation plans, including choosing a college, paying for it,…

Teacher Well-Being

Teacher burnout is at an all-time high

June 26, 2026 by RAND Media

In addition to teacher burnout, many also report lower pay, second jobs, and out-of-pocket classroom spending.

Teacher stress declined modestly in 2026, but teachers were still far more likely than similar working adults to report higher stress, worse well-being and greater financial strain, extending a…

Literacy

New generational reading, math scores have bright spots, but there’s still work to do

June 22, 2026 by Laura Stewart, 95 Percent Group

Ameer Baraka knew something was wrong long before anyone gave it a name. Ameer grew up in poverty in Louisiana and had difficulty learning to read, but no…

Literacy

6 keys to building a high-impact summer reading program

June 17, 2026 by Samantha Krzyzanowski, Hope for Youth and Families

A nonprofit literacy director shares how her organization creates and perfects a 4-week summer reading program that changes students’ lives.

In 2023, Bob Bolduc, the founder of Hope for Youth and Families, identified a gap in our student’s reading success here in Springfield, Massachusetts. He sought to identify…

Classroom Management

With students tuning out, it’s time to rethink the classroom

June 16, 2026 by By Patti Clark, Chief Academic Officer at Lakeshore Learning

Disengagement is often less about student behavior and more about how the classroom learning experience is designed.

Across classrooms right now, many educators are noticing the same shift: Students are even harder to reach than they were just a short time ago. In a recent…

District Management

Leading in the in-between: A multi-track approach to leadership growth

June 12, 2026 by Andy Szeto, Ed.D, Professor and District Administrator

The time between earning a license and a school leadership role is not empty space in a career--it can become a defining stage of growth.

There is a period in the school leadership journey that we do not talk about enough: the time between earning an administrative license and actually becoming a school…

K-12 Cybersecurity

Will schools answer the Canvas breach’s wake-up call?

June 4, 2026 by Michael Greene, Enzoic

The Canvas breach lesson is clear--modern education security requires more than firewalls and endpoint protection.

The recent Instructure/Canvas breach should be a wake-up call for every school and university relying on third-party platforms to power teaching and learning.

Curriculum & Assessment

This district’s STEM “space station” is a growing YouTube hit

June 1, 2026 by Peter Carafano, PhD, River City Science Academy

What happens when district-created STEM instructional media, Spacegate, succeeds both in classrooms and in open digital spaces?

A fictional space station orbiting the moon is turning into a real-world digital success story. Spacegate Station, a STEM series created in 2022 by Duval County Public School…

Curriculum & Assessment

Finding the “low way”: Reclaiming creativity in schools

May 28, 2026 by Joel Kupperstein, Project Lead The Way

Assessment and accountability matter, but we also need space for creativity that allows students to explore, revise, and discover.

When my daughter was little, every time we climbed into the car, she’d look up and ask, “Are we going to take the low way?”

Login